Beam and the like for building construction



y 5, 1938-v A. RAFTER BEAM AND THE LIKE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FiledMay 16, 1936 ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAlbert Rafter,

CONSTRUCTION Glen Ridge, N. J., assignor' to Rafter Machine Company,Bellevillc, N. J., a partnership composed of Albert Rafter and John O.Rafter, Jr.

Application May 16, 1936, Serial No. 80,089

gig 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in metallic beams, studs andrafters and the like for use in building construction.

,7 It has been found that studs and rafters and the like formed fromsheet metal are well adapted for use in building constructions in placeswhere wooden rafters have been heretofore used. The rafters obviouslyare superior to the wooden rafters in that they can withstand greaterstrains and are fireproof.

It is an object of this invention to provide a beam, stud or rafterformed from sheet metal which is of relatively light weight and of greatstrength. The rafter is formed from spaced I 5 metal plates providedwith interlocking means.

A further object is the provision of a beam, stud or rafter for buildingconstruction which is made from sheet metal, and so formed that themetal is distributed to points where .it is most needed and eliminatedat points, such as along the longitudinal center line of the rafter,where it is not essential, thereby enabling a considerable decrease inthe weight and cost of the stud or rafter.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, areaccomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing,forming part thereof, and 3a in which: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective View in section of a stud or rafter embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a stud or rafter embodying theinvention,

5 Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are perspective views, in section, of modifiedforms of the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing details of interlocking means betweensections of the stud or rafter.

40 Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 a building stud or rafter isshown to comprise a pair of metal plates I and 2, each of which isprovided with a plurality of spaced apertures 3 surrounded bycylindrical inwardly directed flanges 4 and 45 5, respectively. Theflanges 4 on plate I telescope in the flanges 5 on plate 2.

Plate I above the cylindrical flanges 4 is directed upwardly, then bentoutwardly at 6 and downwardly to provide a groove at I, then up- 5wardly at 8, which portion is bent at right angles to itself to providea flange 9 which is bent back upon itself and then downwardly parallelto the portion 8 sufficiently to enter the groove I and then bent atright angles to provide a portion I0,

55 the edge of which is bent downwardly at I I to engage groove 1' inthe plate 2. The plate 2 is formed substantially in the same manner asplate I with the exception that it is not provided with portions I0 andII above described.

Between the flanges 9 and the portions I0, if desired, there can beinserted a slab of cementitious material or similar material adapted toreceive nails, screws and the like.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of invention in which both plates I4and I5 are similar. Each plate is provided with inwardly directedcylindrical flanges I6 which telescope as above described and the platesare bent upwardly at I8 and then at right angles thereto to provide aflange I! which is bent back upon itself and downwardly parallel to theportion I8 of the plate and then inwardly at right angles to provide aportion I9 parallel to the flange II. The structure of the plate I4 issimilar to that described with reference to plate I5.

The free edge of portion I9 of plate I5 is bent back upon itself andthen at right angles thereto to form a portion 20, and then again atright angles to the portion 20 to provide a portion 2| which is bentback upon itself. The free edge of the portion I9 of plate I4 is bentover and parallel to the plate I9 and then back upon itself at 23 toprovide a portion which opposes the portion 22 of plate I5, therebyproviding means for interlocking the two plates together to preventseparation thereof.

A slab of cementitious or other material can be inserted, as abovedescribed, in the space between portions I9 and the flanges I1.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the invention in which the wallsand 3| are bent outwardly at 32 and then back upon themselves at rightangles to the walls to provide flanges 33, the free edges of which arebent about each other i to provide an interlocking means as abovedescribed and shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 5 is shown a further modification in in which the wall 35 isbent outwardly at right angles thereto to provide a flange 3B. The wall31, parallel to wall 35, is bent outwardly at right angles thereto toprovide a flange 38 which is. bent back upon itself and crimped toprovide a, plurality of ribs 39 and then bent over and around theflanges 36 to interlock the walls 35 and 31 together, to preventseparation thereof. The ribs 39 also serve as means for properly spacingthe walls. It is of course understood that walls 35 and 31 are providedwith telescoping cylindrical flanges as has heretofore been described.

The lower edge of the rafter shows the flange 3 tion of the plates.

of the flanges are then bent about each other to;

provide interlocking 'means such as above described and shown in Fig.'7. The plates are each provided with strengthening ribs 43 lhich'sp'acethe plates and at the same time provide rigidity to the structure. a

In the above description, inasmuch as the upper edge and lower edge ofeach of the studs and rafters are of identical construction, only oneedge has been described. i

m the above description, it will be seen 'jthat there has been provideda simple and effective metal stud and rafter of considerable'strengthfor use in building construction. The? metal stud and rafterherein describedf can be well used in places where wooden studs andrafters have heretofore been used, sueh as in the building of homes,dwellings and the like.

The stud, and rafter is of light weight, and is adapted toi receivenails and screws in'mulch the sarhe manner-as wooden studs and raftersiThe studs and rafters herein disclgsed are made of spaced parallelplates,'and the structure described which includes the :telescopingcylindrical flanges prevents longitudinal and vertical displacement ofthe plates; and the interlocking means prevents lateral displacement orsepara- The structural members are well adapted for use in dwellings andthe prov n of a plurality of spaced apertures obviously facilitates theelectrical wiring and obviates the.

necessity of drilling holesas heretofore has been necessary in woodenbeams. a

The foregoing disclosure-is to be regarded as descriptive andillustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of theinvention, of which many em'podiments may be constructed including manymodifications, without departing from the general scope herein indicatedand denoted in the claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is: i

1. In a structural member for building construction, a pair of spacedplates provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, inwardly directedflanges surrounding said apertures and integral with said plates, theflanges on one plate being positionedWithin the flanges on the otherplate, one of said plates being bent outwardly and upwardly to provide aportion parallel to the plate, said portion having an inwardly directed*right angular flange'bent back :upon itself and downwardly parallel tosaid portion, the other plate being bent in, a similar manner and havingthe downwardly directed part of the flange parallel to the portionparallel to the plate again bent at right angles to said-plate' andextending to the first mentioned plate, at which point it is bentdownwardly to form an interlock to prevent separation of said plates. 1

2. In a structural member for building construction', a' parrotspaceiplates provided with a plurality of spaced apertures','inwardlydirected flanges surrounding said 'apertures and integral with saidplates, theflanges cnone'plate'being' positioned within the flanges onthe other plate, each of said plates' 'bein'g bent outwardly. and up} jvardly to provide a portion spaced from and parallel to said plates,said portion having an inwardly directed right angular flange, saidflange being bent back upon itself and downwardly parallel to saidportion and then at right angles thereto, the flanges on each platebeing provided with interlocking means to prevent separation of saidplates. r A

. 3. In Ta structuralmember for building construction, a pair of spacedplates provided a plurality of spaced apertures, inwardly directedflanges surrounding said apertiires andintegral "with said plates,thefianges on one plate engaging the flangeson the otherfplate, each ofsaid plates 'being bent outwardly and upwardly to provide a Q itself anddownwardly parallel to said portion and then at right angles thereto,the flanges on each plate being provided with interlocking means toprevent separation of said plates. V

. ALBERT RAFTER.

